SnapStream Blog

Answers to your Hauppauge HD-PVR Questions – 05/29/08
The Hauppauge HD- PVR has begun shipping. Brent Evans over at Geek Tonic does a great job of breaking down the stats on the highly anticipated HD-PVR. via Brent Evan’s Geek Tonic

Sony partners with cable providers on digital cable ready TVs – 05/28/08
The technology eliminates the need for an additional converter or receiver box, simplifying the cable installation process and allowing for the use of advanced features such as on-demand, DVR functions, and program guides. via Beta News

In move to digital TV, some will be left behind – 05/27/08
This article emphasizes the fact that millions of homes are not prepared for the digital switch in 2009. It also touches on the fact that if homes don’t make the switch Nielsen ratings will decrease for local broadcasts and daytime shows. In hopes for action the National Association of Broadcasters have increased awareness and are providing educational material. via NY Times

BiTorrent teams up with Orb – 05/22/08
In practice, an Orb user would get access to BitTorrent content on his PC and then be able to use Orb to stream that content to any of his devices — from a PS3 to an iPhone. via NewTeeVee

Hauppauge HD-PVR units nearing shipment – 05/20/08
Estimated ship date for the first of these units will be next week (May 27th – 30th) sometime. via BrentEvans Geek Tonic

SDV tuning adapters in the flesh – 05/19/08
The SDV tuning adapters are now available for TiVo, but it’s yet to be seen if other CableCARD products (TVs, Media Center PCs) will receive the firmware updates needed to utilize these boxes. via Zatsnotfunny

Netflix Teams with Streaming Media Innovator Roku – 05/19/08
The Netflix Player by Roku is a device that enables Netflix subscribers to instantly stream a growing library of movies and TV episodes from Netflix directly to the TV. Priced at $99.99. via ehomeupgrade

For about two weeks, we’ve been publicly beta testing the next release of Beyond TV, version 4.8.2. Some of what’s new:

• Much faster library and scheduler
• Scrollable Couchville-style program guide in the web interface (see screenshot below)
• Lots of web interface improvements
• Update DivX and H.264 encoders
• Automatic HD ShowSqueeze exposed by default

A screenshot of the new Couchville-style program guide in the new Beyond TV beta:

If you’d like to help us test the Beyond TV 4.8.2 beta, just sign-up (access is immediate) and you’ll be able to download it.

P.S. we also have another beta, a private beta, of a version of Beyond TV that supports recording unencrypted QAM (aka clear QAM) on Hauppauge devices such as the HVR-1600, HVR-1800, HVR-950Q, HVR-1250, and HVR-1950. If you’d like to be considered for *this* beta as we open it up, sign-up for the beta program — link above — and then e-mail matt@ with the subject line “I want to test Beyond TV with QAM”.

To expound upon the new Beyond TV 4.8 feature Saved Guide Search, we’ve documented a “real life” use case. Check out the video as we follow a girl’s obsession with David Hasselhoff.

NBC- Vista copy-protection snafu reminds us why DRM stinks – 05/14/08
Windows Vista Media Center users found themselves blocked from making recordings this week when a broadcast flag triggered the software’s built-in copy protection measures. The flag affected users trying to record prime-time NBC shows on Monday evening, using both over-the-air broadcasts and cable.
via arstechnica

D-Link now shipping wireless bridge– 05/14/08
D-Link introduced the newest member of its award-winning Xtreme N™ product family, the DAP-1522 Wireless Bridge, which enables users to create a powerful Wi-Fi bridge to the home entertainment system using the latest draft 802.11n technology. The DAP-1522 connects up to 4 wired devices to an existing wireless network to lend high performance to the home entertainment system for HD transfers, online gaming and more. via ehomeupgrade

MPEG and Bitrates – 05/12/08
Motorola will have displays up showing video quality comparisons of MPEG-2 and MPEG-4 videos at various bitrates at next weeks Cable Show. The purpose is to show that MPEG-4 delivers on its promise of MPEG-2 video quality at half the bitrate. via connectedhome2go

Current graphics cards compared – 05/09/08
The crew over at The Tech Report decided to break things down using the only stat that matters: price.
Via engadet

Orb first to enable live TV on iPhone – 05/08/08
Orb Networks, today announced the world’s first way to stream live TV to the iPhone and iPod touch. For the first time, iPhone users can enjoy the immediacy of live sporting events and fast-breaking news on their phone. via ehomeupgrade

CableLabs loosens up tru2way licensing – 05/07/08
Cable Labs will be making it easier for OEMs to certify their CableCARD products. via engadgethd

Hauppauge HD-PVR shipping delayed to mid-May – 04/30/08
The Hauppauge website it still tells us that the HD-PVR will begin shipping on May 1st, 2008, but there is new information that says that isn’t the case. Instead, the earliest, expected shipment dates are mid-May 2008. via BrentEvans Blog

Sezmi looks to provide alternative for cable/satellite – 05/01/08
The box will fetch content from a number of places: the built-in OTA receiver will grab locals, and it will use the owner’s broadband internet connection to snag IPTV material and web-based content (YouTube, Hulu, etc.). via Zats Not Funny

ZeeVee’s Box brings the PC to TV – 05/01/08
ZeeVee has an interesting solution that uses the existing cable wiring in your home to display what’s on your PC on an empty channel on your TV dial. Instead of requiring an additional receiver, it uses the HD tuner in your TV. No new-fangled wireless HD or old-fangled screen-scraping required. via NewTeeVee

DViCO FusionHDTV7 Dual Expres – 05/02/08
The FusionHDTV7 Dual Express, which is the world first dual HD (Digital or QAM) reception PCI express card, has been released. via ehomeupgrade